Automatic plug making machine



Dec. 9 w s wHlTlNG JR' AUTOMATIC PLUG MAKING MACHINE Filed'July 2'7,193'? 5 SheetS-Sfieet l Dec. 9, 1941. k w. s w JR 2,265,709

AUTOMATIC PLUG MAKING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1937 5 Sheets-Shegt 2 Dec.9, 1941. w. s. WHITING, JR 2,265,709 v AUTOMATIC PLUG MAKING MACHINE I vw Jr/Y/ J'- Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT AUTOMATIC PLUGMAGHIN E William Scott Whiting, JrZ Cant'On, N. C.

ApplicationYJuly 27, 1937, SerialLNo; 155,997

3 Claims.

the provision, in a device of this kind, ofaplurality of cooperatinginstrumentalities designed to perform certain sequential andsimultaneous operations on the stock and adapted to automatically startand stop said operations at timed intervals along a complete cycleduring which the blank stock is converted into a finished article.

Another object is the provision of novel automatically operative meansfor seizing the stock and, after the effecting of a preliminary opera---tion thereon, transporting the blank, and releas-- ing it to the controlof another instrumentalit'y for theefiecting of further operationsthereon.

A further object of theinvention'istoprovide in such amachine a, novelself-centeringresil ient', gripping blank transferring-member adapted topresent pieces of stock ofnon-uniformdimensions and contour to thecenters of a turningunit' or lathe member in proper position forreception by said centers, and also adapted to'automatioally yieldtheblank to the control of saidcenters uponretraction of the transfermember.

A further object is the provision of novel-driving and operating meansfor the machine, whereby the various transferring, gripping, shaping;and releasing members may be actuatedi'n-their proper relation andsequence to convert the'raw' stock or blank into the finished articledesired.-

The invention in its preferred embodiment contemplates the provision ofa paper-roll plug forming machine of the properties described, but it isobvious that within its broader aspects it may embrace spool or bobbinmaking machines or similar devices which involve the severing of a blankfrom a piece of stock and shaping'it by turning, drilling, or otheroperations.

In such preferred formfor example, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the present specificationthe machine,supported by a suitable frame, comprises a blanksupporting andtransferring clamp, which recalves-one end of a piece of'roughlyround orpolygonal-stock whilea cut-off member advances,

seversa blank of there'quired length from'the;

stock, and then returns to 'its initiaI position.

The clamp then carries-the-severedblank from its.original;position toasecond station where'it is met by an oscillating-lathe-member whichgrips the blank and automatically withdraws it from the clamp which thenreturns to its initial position to receivethe blank for the preparationof the subsequent article. "The lathe member carries the blank forwardlyupon its return movement, and during this movement the blank is drilled,a roughing cut is taken from its outer" surface and finally a finishingcut is effected and the plug'released;

Intermittent rotation of-the-live center ofthe" lathe member is providedfor by certain tensiom ingand braking means whichalso comprise novelfeatures of theinvention.

Other objects and features of novelty-'will-be apparent from thefollowing specification when read: in connection with theaccompanying-drawings, in1which-- Figure I is a plan view'of 'a machinewhich-embodies' the principles of the invention;

Figure 2' is -a-vertical-'-longitudinal sectional-view of the deviceshown in Figure 1" and taken on line 33 of that figure;

Figure 3 is-a'view in transverse vertical section' taken" substantiallyon line 3+3 of Figure- 1;

Figure 4 is a-fragment-ztryyiew inelevation' of' the combination drill,lathe; and-transfermember of the machine; 7

Figure-E-is-a fragmentary plan-view ofa por- 1 tion of one sidedthemachineshowing the'lath'e' center actuatingcam and connectinglinkage;

Figures 6- and 7 aresomewhat' diagrammatic news in side elevation of'the lathe' d'riving' gearing;

Figure Bis-a view in side elevation of the lathe oscillating cam Figure9 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view' takensubstantially on line 3' .3 of Figure 1, similar 'to Figure aia'nd'showl.ing the positions-0f th'e'part's when the blank is,being'transferredfrom' the clamp member to the" lathe member.

Figure 10' is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewof the drilloperatingcam and connecting;

arm; and

Figure 11 is a-chart indicating graphically the' timing of thevariousoperations of the'machine" eif'ected-by means of the several cammembers. For effecting the described objects of i the present invention,the illustrated embodimentpomprises a plurality of woodworking tools orinstru- 1 mentalities adapted to properly shape the plug shaping theperiphery of the blank and a final finishing tool for smoothing thesurface thereof.

A substantially rectangular supporting frame is provided for the machineand, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, comprisesthe front frame member I0, rear frame member II, and side members [2 andI3. A number of transverse shafts extend between .the' side upon theshaft 25. The outer end of the arm 45 frames l2 and [3 for purposeswhichwill. be

described in detail .at the proper points. These shafts include thedrive shaft I5 which receives power from a suitable source through thebelt 1 pulley It; the saw supporting shaft IS; the shaft which pivotallysupports a blank transferring arm; the hollow shaft 22, which supportsthe swinging lathe member; and the cam shaft upon which are fixed thecams for actuating the operativemembers in their proper sequence. 7

The first operation performed by the machine I is that of severing ablank from a piece of rough stock, which may be of varying diameters and3 contour and may comprise round or polygonal 1 stock, tree limbs, cordwood, or billets of various cross-sectional shapes.

able length is placed in a suitable receptacle exl emplified by the rackor trough indicated somewhat diagrammatically at 28 in Figure 1 with itsA piece of stock of suitforward end extending for a distance beyond theends of the trough approximating the desired 1 length of the finishedarticle.

The cut-off member comprises, in this instance, the circular saw 30which is fixed to the end of portion 32 of the pivoted saw frame memberindicated generally by the numeral 33. Thisyframe member has an innersleeve'portion 34 which rotates upon the saw shaft I 8. A pulley 35 issecured to one end of the axle 3!, and is adapted to be driven by meansof the belt36 from the drive pulley 3'l secured to the power shaft l5.

The saw frame 33 is-provided with a cam arm 38 which projects from thelower portion 35 of 1 the shaft or axle 3| which rotates in the outerthe frame and carries the roller 39 which coni tacts with the cam 40secured to the cam shaft 25 and so shaped as to oscillate the saw frame33 to and from the positions indicated at A and B.

in Figure 3 of the drawings; the position A being the initial position,of the saw, and the position B from the piece of stock carried in therack 28,

t and for transferring it from this initial cut-olf position, designatedby the numeral 1, to the next station in its progress through themachine, 3 there 'is provided a transfer member designated :generally bythe reference numeral 45. This member comprises the arm which isprovided withjasleeve 4f! wherebyit is pivotally mounted for the coilsprings 55 which surround the ends of the shaft 50 and are compressedbetween these abutments and the jaws 52, whereby the jaws arecontinually urged inwardly toward each other so as to resiliently clampwork of various crosssectionaldimensions. In order to prevent rockingmovement of the jaws longitudinally of the blank, guide rods 51 extendfrom the shank 48 through openings formed in the rear ends of the jawmembers 52.

Pivotally secured to each of the jaw members 52 at intermediate pointsare the ends of the short toggle levers 58; the opposite ends of theselevers being pivotally secured as at 59 to the trigger or actuating rod50 which is adapted to reciprocate within the tubular shank 48 0f thetransfer member. A slot 6| is formed invthis shank for the accommodationof the pivot element 59 which joins the toggle levers 58 to the element60. The jaws 52 are formed withsubstantially concave inwardly directedfaces, the preferred form being illustrated as angular, whereby thepoints of contact with the various non-uniform pieces of stock may be aminimum, and whereby the stock of no matter what crosssection may beproperly centered for presentation to the lathe member, which willpresently be described. It will be noted that the lower jaw 52 is hingedas at 54 and the outer portion thereof is provided with an arcuatespring guiding rod 56 which passes through an opening inthe innerportion of the jaw. -A coil spring 62 surrounds the rod and is adaptedto be compressed between the inner and outer sections when the lower jawmembers moves downwardly to permit the re-v so shaped as to swing thetransfer member 45- to and from its initial position indicated in Figure3 to its delivery position indicated in Figures 1 and 9 of the drawings.g j a i V The lathe member for receiving the blank from the-transfermember 45 and for cooperating with the cutting tools to shape the blank,will now be described. The lathe member designated generally by'thereference numeral 10' is shown to the best advantage in Figure 4 of thedrawings, and comprises thehead; stock Hand the tail stock 12, theformer being provided with the sleeve or collar 13 secured to therotatable hollow lathe shaft 22 for a1 swinging movement about the axisof this shaft. The tail stock '12 is provided with a similar collar 14which'is suitably keyed to the hollow'shaft 2-2 and preferablyadjustable longitudinally thereon bygsuitable: means not shown for theaccommodation,

The headand of blanks of various lengths; tail stocksare connected with.their" respective sleeves or collars by the webs or. plates and I6respectively. Extending downwardly from the hollow lathe supportingshaft 22, or from one ortheother ofthe-collars I3 or M, is an arm 16"which is pivotally connected with one end of the cam link 18, as bymeans of the adjustable pinand slotconnection I9.- Alathe oscillating.cam .80 iscarried by'thecam shaft-25 and serves to reciprocate :the link18 by its contact withthecameroller 82 which: is preferablyantifrictionally mounted at one end of the bifurcated-frame 83Whichstraddles the cam 80 and is=provided with-slots84= for theaccommodation of'the cam-shaft. 2i5' during the oscillatory movement ofthe linkages I8, 83. These features are clearly shown in Figures 1 .7and 8 of the drawings;

Referring again more particularly to Figure- 4 of the 'drawings, ;itwillbe observed that the annular tail center 31 of the lathe isrotatably mounted byvmeans of the anti-friction bearing 8,8 upon. theend of. the shaft 89 which passes through the tail stock 12 Thus, byreciprocationof the shaftflflithe tail center 37 maybe moved to and fromthe. live center Sit, rotatablycarried by the headstock II, in order topositively. clamp the blankv HID-between these centers. Thereciprocation of. the tail. center 8'! is by meansof the following.connections. A lever 9-2- isfulcrumed adjacentits mid-portion to the bar93. which is secured as at .94 to the web- 16. A coil'spring 95.connects the lower portion of the 1ever.92 with. the web I6. and servesto urge the tail center 8?. outwardly away from the live center 96. Thelower end of the lever. 92 passes through theslot 9? in the hollow shaft22.and is pivotally.andadjustably connectedas. at 98 with.

the reciprocating. shaft IEII whichpasses axially through. the hollowshaft 22, and whose outer end is connected with cam means for actuationand release ofv thev blank by the lathe centers, alias clearly showninFigure of. the drawings.

Theouterendof the shaft Itilv is threaded as at I.B2..for-. theadjustable reception of theflanged internally threadedsleeve Hi3 whichis provided with .the wheel N14 for manual rotation. The

forked end H15 ofthe cam lever Iflfiis received between the. flanges.of. the .sleeve Hi2 for pivotally connecting, the shaft Ill! with thecam actuated rod I613. The latter rod is fulcrumed to,.the. bracket Iii!carried by the frame member I.3l of. the machine, and the opposite endthereof is provided with the cam roller H35 which contacts with theeffective face I09 of the cam disc 'I I8 which is carried on theprojecting end of the cam shaft 25 exteriorly of the frame #3.

The face IE9 of the cam ,I II) is provided with.

th depressed portion III into which the roller IUS'drops when it isdesired to release the blank from between the centers 8! and 90; Theroller" I68 rides up-the inclined portion of the cam face I99 attheproper point in its cycleof movement in order to clamp the centersupon the next succeeding blank.

By these means'the pivoted lathe member Iii is-causedlto oscillatebetween thepositions indicated at 11. andIIIin Figure 3 of the:drawings. At the position designated II the lathe member 19, is'adaptedto meet the. transfer member 45. for the exchange of the blank me, andthese coincident positions are shown in'lli-gure 9.. of thedrawings. Invthis-positionlthe cam It causes :thelathe centers,- Blr and; 1 .90 ntopositivelyx rinthe ank 1130 w ch a b en p per centered for them by meansof the novel sel -f'.-

centering transfer member 45. Under theinfluence of thecam155:thertransfermember-145 iscaused to return: from position II.toward its, initial position I,. and the jaws-52=- move apart.automatically against the. influence": of the springs 59 and-snap awayfrom the.blank'leaving-. it in the possession of..-the lathe member. 19.Th transfer member -45, upon its .return-ito theinitial position I,approaches the abutment llfi against which the projecting end ofthe-triger on-jaw actuating .rod 60 strikes. Continued movement of theearm.toward the abutment serves to open. the jaws 32 from the dotted line,position in Figure 3 tov the fulllineposition. for the recep tionof thenextsucceeding blank to be cut from the stock. bymeans I of the saw 39;.

As the transfer arm- 45 returns; fIO PQSitIOI-L 11- toward positionI,,the-lathe m'ember 'III m-o es;

from position II. toward position III, andishortly" after leaving Iposition II the: live center-begins to rotate: the blank I00 preparatoryto being acted uponby thefcutters. and drill. For rotating the livecenter the following mechanism is provided.

' Upon the outer end. of the live-center. shaft I28 is providedthepulleyIZIaboutwhichis trained.

a beltor chain I22. The lower turnofthe belt. I22 passes around thepulley I-23.carried upon 3o; the drive shaft I5-as clearly shown inFigures 2, 6, and '7 of. the drawings. In order to' provide thepropertautness of the belt I22v during the time when thelatheisswingingfrompoint.

II.to the point III, and for preventing rotation: of the lathe centers:when the lathe is at. the

position II whereit receives the blank, the-followingdevices. areprovided. A. pair of spaced discs I25, providing an. idler carryingframe, ;are-

pivoted to the side frame: as by means of the: bracket I26.

brace the belt I22 andaresecuredtogethen as by means of the pulley axlesI21 upon which-the small idler pulleys- I2'8- are rotatably mounted.

A coil spring I30 serves. to connect-the= point. 5. I3I on the idlerframe I25 with a point: I -3,.-I;' on.

the lathe 20; When the lathe is'in positionfIII or approaching thisposition; thebelt I22 is taut; passing around the idlers I 28 as showninFigure 7, and. the spring I30 is placed under condlllsiderable*tension and serves to urge the discs;

I25: in a clock-wise direction, ,thus tending to. further tautenthe beltI22.

When the lathe member is in the DOSltiOIliII.

as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the: rotation of thelivecenter of the lathe isprevented by the'contact of-the circularbrakedrumr.

I32. carried upon-the endof the live. center shaft. I20, with thestationary brake shoe I33 which is provided with. a supporting bracket I34 secured; '3-

clockwise rotationof theidler frame I25 isarrested by the contact oftheabutment I 24 car- (fif, ried' by the idler-frame with the stationaryabutment. I 29 carried byithebrake supporting bracket.

I34; as clearly shown in. Figure 6 of. the drawings. This permits thenecessary slackness in the;

drivingbelt I22 to further prevent the rotation These discs are adaptedtoem to the main frame in. any-suitablemannen.not. shown. Just beforethe lathemember reaches-.- the position designated: by the numeralII,the

and I29 and the influence of the tension spring During the I fromposition II to position 111, the blank I00 is bored axially by means ofthe drill I35 which is disposed concentrically with the lathe centers 81and 90, being mounted upon the inner end of a reciprocating shank I36which passes through the head stock II of the lathe. A lever I31 ispivotally connected to the end of the shank I36 and to a fulcrum bar I38attached as at I39 to the 'head stock web 15. Intermediate the ends ofthe lever I3! is pivotally attached the link I40 whose inner end ispivoted to one arm of the bell crank lever I4I fulcrumed at I42- to theplate I5. The free end I44 of the bell crank I4I projects beyond theinner margin of in Figures 1 and of the drawings, this rock ing camlever I45 is provided intermediate its length with a sleeve portion I46which surrounds the shaft 20 upon which the lever is fulcrumed. Theopposite end of the lever is provided with a cam roller I48, which rollsupon the surface of the cam I50 carried by the cam shaft I5. The cam I50is so shaped as to cause the connecting linkage to feed the drill I35through the blank I00 as it is being rotated by the live center 90.Suitable resilient means is provided for retracting the drill when thelever I45 is permitted to rock in the reverse direction due to thedepressed portion of the cam I50. This means may comprise the coilspring I52 which may be placed around the drill shank I36 between theabutment I53 associated with the live center assembly adjacent the brakedrum I32 and the corresponding abutment I 54 carried by the shank I36.The cam I50 is timed so that the drill. I35 passes through the blankandis retracted therefrom during the passage of the lathe member I0 fromposition II to position III. The tail center 81 is hollowed out as atI55 for the reception of the end of the drill I35'at the end of itsworking stroke.

i During the movement of the lathe from posi" 'tion IIto position IIIthe blank I00 is brought is operatively connected with a drive pulleyI63 as by means of the belt I10; the pulley IBQbeing carried by thedrive shaft I5. the roughing out which applies the general pe ripheralshape to the blank I00, the lathe member I0 proceeds to a point adjacentthe 'position;

designated III where the finishing blade I trims the peripheral surfaceof the blank to the proper depth which may be regulated by a suitablefeed effected by the hand crank I16, the blade and feed mechanism beingcarried by a suitable extension of the side frame I0. The plug or spoolis now completed and may be released from the lathe member 70 at thispoint III "or at any time during the return movement of the lathe toposition II; or in fact, after it is returned to posi tion II and beforereceiving the next blank from movement of the lathe member Afterreceiving the transfer member 45. The point at which the finishedarticle is released will be determined, of course, by the relation ofthe lathe center actuating cam IIO to the lathe swinging cam 80.

One preferred manner of timing the operation of the severalinstrumentalities by the proper shaping and adjusting of the cams isindicated diagrammatically in Figure 11 of the drawings in which thepoints of change of the several appropriately designated cams are shownon the heavy lines indicating their movement. These critical points areindicated by the letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and 2'. The distancea-U represents the working stroke of the saw under the influence of itscam, and the interval bc indicates the retracting stroke of the saw orcut-off member. It will be noted from the chart that during the intervalc-d the transfer arm actuating cam is moving that arm from station I tostation II, while at the same time the lathe swinging cam is moving thelathe member from station III to station II. The interval de representsthe period when the transfer of the blank 103 from the arm 45 to thelathe I0 is taking place, these members, of course, being stationary atthis point, and the lathe center cam operating to positively clamp theblank preparatory to being withdrawn from the transfer member 45. Duringthe interval ef the transfer arm is being brought back from station IIto station I, thus releasing the blank, and the lathe member is startingupon its passage to station III, as indicated by the gradual slope ofits representative line. Just beyond the point e and continuing toapproximately the point g, the drill is being fed through the blank, andduring the interval g-h the drill is being permitted to taking placeduring the interval ia. During the relatively gradual movement of thelathe member from point e to point i, the roughing and finishing toolsoperate upon the blank while it is being rotated between the centersofthe lathe. Of course, various modifications may be made in thesynchronizing of these cams Without departing from the scope of theinvention, as for example, the blank need not be released nor need thedrilling operation be entirely completed until the lathe member hasreturned to station II "as indicated by the point 11 on the chart.

. Suitable gearing i8!) may be provided as indicated in Figure 2 of thedrawings in order to connect the cam shaft 25 with the power shaft I5for the proper actuation, the cam shaft 25, of course, rotating at amuch slower speed than the drive shaft I5.

In some of the figures of drawing certain in tervening portions of themechanism are broken away or omitted entirely for the purpose of clarityof disclosure. Also, there are provided means for returning the variousoscillating devices against cam pressure, such as for example, thesprings I and I86.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madein the embodiment illustrated herein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined by the following claims. 7

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a woodworking machine of the class described, a supporting frame,a blank transferring arm pivotally mounted on said frame, said armcomprising an angular shank, a pair of oppositely disposed inwardlyconcave jaws carried by the outer end of said shank, means mounting saidjaws for bodily translatory movement toward and away from each other,resilient means for urging said jaws toward each other, a pair of togglelevers directly connecting said jaws, and a rod slidabl along oneportion of said angular shank, having a projecting end, and pivotallyconnected to both of said toggle levers at the mid-point of the toggle,and an abutment on said frame against which the projecting end of saidrod is adapted .to strike at one point during the movement of said arm,in order to actuat the toggle and spread said jaws apart.

2. In a machine of the class described, a blank feeding membercomprising an arm, a transverse guide rod extending from each side ofthe said arm adjacent one end thereof, a pair of gripping jaws slidablymounted on said rod, one upon each side of said arm, spring abutments oneach end of said rod, coil springs compressed between said abutments andsaid jaws respectively, and toggle means for spreading said jaws againstthe pressure of said springs.

3. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a blankfeeding member movably supported upon said frame and comprising an arm,a transverse guide rod extending from each side of the said arm adjacentone end thereof, a pair of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rod,one upon each side of said arm, spring abutments on each end of saidrod, coil springs compressed between said abutments and said jawsrespectively, a pair of levers each having one of its ends pivotallyconnected with one of said jaws, said arm having a bore extending atleast partly therethrough, and a rod slidably disposed within said boreand pivotally connected with the other ends of said levers, thus forminga toggle, an abutment on said frame, one end of said rod projecting fromsaid arm and adapted to strike said abutment at one point during themovement of said arm to reciprocate the rod,

extend the toggle, and spread the jaws apart against the pressure ofsaid springs.

WILLIAM SCOTT WHITING, J a.

